VIII. Literary and Professional Correspondence, 1963-1995

Arrangement: Series VIII.1, Individual Correspondence, is arranged alphabetically by last name
of correspondent. Series VIII.2, General Correspondence, has two subseries: letters to Ishmael
Reed, and letters from Ishmael Reed. Each subseries is arranged chronologically by folder and
within folder, with undated materials for each year at the end. Undated letters which were
originally contained in a dated folder remain with the folders for that year or span of years. Other
undated materials are in separate folders at the end of the subseries. Series VIII.3, Requests, has
five subseries: Submission Requests, Requests to Comment, Permission to Publish,
Recommendations, and Miscellaneous Requests. Each subseries is in chronological order. The
remaining series are also in chronological order: Series VIII.4, Literary Information; Series
VIII.5, Invitations; and Series VIII.6; Rejection Slips.

Description:

The Literary and Professional Correspondence subsection contains correspondence
relating to Reed's professional life and concerns in general, but not necessarily or primarily
concerned with specific projects. Materials of many kinds are included, ranging from theoretical
discussion with colleagues to requests for autographs. There are letters from every period of
Reed's writing career, from just before the publication of his first novel, The Freelance
Pallbearers (1967) through the publication of Japanese by Spring (1993). This series is
particularly important in documenting Reed's literary reputation and the effect of his writing,
appearances, and collaborative projects on his peers and his readers.

The Individual Correspondence series (VIII.1) is formed from the author's files on
individual correspondents or from letters removed from other sections of the collection,
presumably because the correspondents were perceived to be of particular literary or historical
interest. In some cases, folders for a correspondent include other materials, such as clippings,
manuscripts, resumes, recommendation forms, and letters or copies of letters from others which
relate to the named correspondent. In a few cases, a letter or copy of a letter from Ishmael Reed
to the correspondent is included, although most letters from Reed are in the General
Correspondence subseries. Correspondents include artists, such as Bettye Saar and Gerald Duane
Coleman, and musicians, such as Ortiz Walton and Johnny Otis, as well as writers and academics.

The General Correspondence series (VIII.2) is based on the author's chronological files.
These folders were dated with a year or span of years only. Items are arranged in chronological
order within the folders, and additional correspondence in the collection which relates to general
literary and professional concerns has been interfiled in the appropriate folders. In a few cases,
folders had more specific labels, and these have been retained. Folders of undated materials not
originally belonging to dated folders are at the end of the series, along with a folder of detached
pages. There is a variety of correspondence in these files, and some materials related to specific
appearances, works, academic duties, and other professional projects is included. Additional
correspondence by individuals included in the named correspondence series is also present.

Series VIII.2 is divided into two subseries: letters to Ishmael Reed, and letters from
Ishmael Reed. Letters from Reed are generally carbon or photocopies of typed letters, but there
are a few in the author's hand. Some outgoing letters contain autograph notations. Others are
obviously drafts that were not mailed, and one folder of letters retains the original folder
designation, "mailed and unmailed." In some cases, short letters to more than one individual are
typed on the same sheet. A few letters of reply to Reed or letters from others relating to his
correspondence are included. There are also some letters from Reed which are of a personal
rather than a literary or professional nature.

Series VIII.3, Requests, contains letters of specific types such as those requesting
permission to publish or reprint Reed's work, or those requesting submission of original work for
publication. The arrangement does not distinguish between answered and unanswered letters or
between requests to which Reed responded and those he ignored or turned down. In many cases,
however, initial correspondence relating to a specific appearance, work, or project is filed with
other related materials in the appropriate series. There is also a subseries of Requests to Appear
in Series VI. The majority of the letters in the subsection Requests to Comment are those
accompanying advance copies of books by other authors with requests for a comment from Reed
to use in the book's publicity. The Miscellaneous Requests subsection contains requests for
autographs, information, and favors. Letters requesting recommendations for students and
colleagues are found in the Recommendations subsection, along with forms, notes, resum‚s, and a
few draft letters from Reed. Letters requesting recommendation can also be found in subseries
VIII.1 and VIII.2. (Individual and General Correspondence) and in Series V (Academic).

Subseries VIII.4, Literary Information, consists of brochures, flyers, announcements,
newsletters, and similar materials sent to Reed. Subseries, VIII.5, Invitations, and VIII.6,
Rejection Slips, are based on existing folders of these types of letters. Other invitations and
rejection slips can also be found in the Individual and General Correspondence files.